Window-sash-operating mechanism.



UNITED STATE PATENT @FFIQE.

WILLIAM VON WOLF FRADT, 0F CLEVELAND, OI-IIO.

WINDOW-SASH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVlLLIAM voN VVoLF- FRADT, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and StateofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in W'indow-Sash-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to window-sash-operating mechanism, and has for itsobject the provision of means for readily actuating one or morerelatively inaccessible windows, although the principal employment ofsaid invention is found in the concurrent opening and closing of aseries of window sashes, such as are commonly required in factorybuildings.

My invention, as herein embodied, avoids the use of rotating shafts orsliding rods with gears, link or other connections to the window-sashes,which constructions involve not only a material increase in expense overmy improved device, but are complicated and liable to get out of order.Moreover, my operating means permits the sashes to open completely.

Briefly stated, my invention is embodied. in braced connections upon thesashes, preferably attached to the bottom rails thereof, with which areassociated a single traveling rope, cable or chain, suitablycounterweighted and carried over supporting pulleys, and adjustableconnecting-means for individually attaching said braces (these.

constituting the window-actuating mem bers) to the rope or chain.

Details of my improved construction will be more readily understood bymaking reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein I FigureI is a view in elevation showing the actuating means associated withthree vertically pivoted windows, Fig. II is a transverse sectional Viewthereof with the windows closed, and Fig. III is a similar view showingthe windows partly opened. Fig. IV illustrates details of thecounterweight and attaching cleats, respectively positioned at oppositeends of the operating cable, and Fig. V shows the adjustable connectionsand the angular casting uniting the window brace.

Throughout the several figures of the drawing I have employed the samecharacters of reference to indicate similar parts.

Each of the window-sashes a is swung Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 28, 1911.

Patented June 4t, 1912. Serial No. 605,188.

upon central vertical pivots a. A composite brace or bracket 6 issecured to the bottom and the left hand side rails of each of thewindow-sashes. This brace is made up of the angular casting 0 shown inFig. V, with which are connected three rods attached at their ends towidely separated portions of the window-sash. The upwardly extending rod0 is attached about midway of the side-rail, while the horizontal rods0", 0 are connected near the ends of the bottom rail of said sash.

Each of the castings 0 is provided with a depending pivotal member (Z,to which the traveling rope e, or other actuating member, is adjustablyattached, as by the clips cl This rope is carried over pulleys e e" anda counterweight f is attached at the right hand end of the rope,sufficiently heavy to swing open the series of windowsashes with whichit is associated. The opposite end of said rope may conveniently belooped to pass over the studs or cleats g, for

holding the window-sashes closed, or in any desired position whenopened. It is obvious that the rope will be of suflicient length tobring it within convenient reach of the person actuating theabove-described mechanism.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that my invention is embodiedin the simplest form of mechanism for accomplishing the desired result.The counterweighted member 6 may be made of hemp or wire rope, or achain may be employed to aiford a sufiiciently flexible traveling memberfor attaching to the actuating braces. The latter, in the preferred formfor operating heavy window-sashes preferably extend the length of thebottom rail of the sash, so that both a pushing and pulling effect issecured to turn the window-sash upon its pivots. Moreover, the diagonal,upright brace renders the construction more rigid and trusslike incharacter.

It will be observed that the brace is attached to the bottom rail of thewindowsash and that the pivotal member of the casting is slightly belowthe bottom rail at its point of attachment with the rope. Consequentlythe window-sashes are unobstructed, so that they may swing freely upontheir pivots, as the rope is below their horizontal plane of rotation.It follows that the windows may be swung through the full arc of ninetydegrees.

The braces, it will be understood, preferably are individuallyadjustable with respect to the flexible traveling member, so that anydifference in the length thereof may be compensated for, and all thewindows may be given an equal opening or closing movement. By means ofthe weight, a single traveling member is rendered sufficient for openingor closing the windows from one position, although it will be understoodthat should the windows stick or bind they may be swung open by pullingupon the weighted end of the rope.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, together with suchchanges as may be made by mere skill, the following 1. In a window-sashoperating mechanism, the combination with a vertically pivotedwindow-sash, of a traveling flexible member supported in a plane lowerthan said window-sash, a counterweight attached to said flexible member,an angular-ly-extending member mounted upon the windowsash andadjustably connected with said traveling member and means for holdingsaid flexible member in adjusted positions, substantially as set forth.

2. In a window-sash operating mechanism, the combination with aplurality of vertical pivoted window-sashes of a plurality of bracesextending laterally beyond the planes thereof and rigidly secured tosaid window-sashes, a traveling flexible member,

a counterweight at one end thereof, adjustable connecting-means forsecuring said traveling member to each of the braces and means forholding said flexible member in adjusted positions, substantially as setforth.

3. In window-sash operating mechanism, the combination with a pluralityof pivoted window -sashes, of a plurality of bracket members rigidlyattached thereto and extending beyond the plane of said windows, aflexible and relatively inextensible member mounted to traveltransversely of the movement of the windows, adjustable connecting-meansfor securing the bracket members individually thereto, a counterweightfor actuating the traveling member, and means for holding it in itsadjusted positions, substantially as set forth. 7

4. In window-sash operating mechanism, the combination with a pivotallymounted window-sash, of a brace or bracket member connected with thewindow-sash substantially at the extremities of one of its pivotallymovable rails and extending laterally beyond the plane of saidwindow-sash, a flexible traveling member, a counterweight thereon, meansfor retaining said member in its adjusted position, and adjustable meansfor connecting the traveling member with the brace, substantially as setforth.

5. The combination with a plurality of vertical pivoted window-sashes,of a plurality of braces attached respectively near the extremities oftheir horizontal rails, a rope extending past said braces and overpulleys positioned beyond the series of windows, a counterweightattached at one end of the rope, retaining means for the opposite end ofthe rope, and adjustable connecting-means for securing the bracesindividually to said rope, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a plurality of vertically pivoted window-sashes,of a plurality of braces attached respectively to the bottom railsthereof, a traveling flexible member actuated beneath the braces in aplane lower thanthe window-sashes, and means for connecting said braceswith the flexible member, whereby the window-sashes are actuated toswing through substantially an arc of ninety degrees, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I do now affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM VON WOLFFRADT. [L. s.] \Vitnesses ISAAC T. KAHN, ALBERT LYNNLAWRENCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C.

